MATCH REPORT | Athletic Club crowned cup champions on penalties (1-1 and 4-2 pens)

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The most traditional and sought after trophy in Spanish football is also the oldest and the one that complies gets the footballing romantics’ heart beating that bit faster, capable of creating lasting feelings across the generations.

The fact that Athletic Club, the team that won the most cup titles in the last century, is also the only one that unfailingly lifts the trophy every 40 years exactly (1904, 1944, 1984 and 2024) is one of them, and this Saturday in springtime, Sevilla once again saw history repeat itself.

The lions roared in the penalty shoot-out after a grand final in front of a packed house at La Cartuja and the suspense on the pitch was maintained well into the early hours of the morning.

Athletic took control of the game early on, dominating possession and looking dangerous down the wings with Nico Williams making the Balearic defence suffer.

Galarreta had a good chance on the quarter of an hour mark, but it was to be the visitors who struck first thanks to one of their greatest weapons: the set piece.

Javier Aguirre struck gold with a corner kick that, after several rebounded shots, Dani Rodríguez sent the ball crashing into the back of the Basque’s net.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ATHLETIC CLUB'S CELEBRATION AT LA CARTUJA DE SEVILLA

The goal spurred on the Lions, with Nico Williams a constant threat down the left flank. The Slovakian Greif had his work cut out on various occasions in goal for Mallorica and the Spanish international Nico Williams had a goal disallowed just before half-time, thanks to the intervention of the semi-automatic offsides technology.

The restart saw a good chance for a Basque equaliser in one of their favourite moves: a turnover in the opposition half, a quick transition with a pass from Nico Williams and a precise shot from Oihan Sancet into the net.

It looked like a comeback was on the cards, but Aguirre reacted with a double substitution of Morlanes and Antonio Sanchez, plugging the gaps in his defence. 

The red and whites were denied space by a Mallorca side that grew in defensive strength as the minutes ticked by and the final went into extra time.

Valverde brought on Berenguer, Muniain and Raúl García in extra time in a bid for experience and experience that would ultimately prove decisive from the Russian roulette of the penalty shootout.

Nico Williams, voted best player of the final, was very close to deciding it with just before the final whistle, but an outstretched foot from Maffeo kept Berenguer's effort at bay.

Greif and Agirrezabala saved the last few chances and the match headed to a penalty shootout that handed Bilbao the title and let their fans party long into the night. Fitting that such an old team should win the oldest competition in Spanish football, and as usual, 40 years since their last cup success.

 

MATCH INFORMATION